Wild Rose candidates went head-to-head on a number of issues including pensions, government transparency, corporate tax cuts, the need for a Senate and criminal sentences on April 21 during the Federal Candidates Forum at Bert Church Theatre.
The Conservative, Liberal, NDP and Green Party candidates presented their platforms, answered written and oral questions from the audience and mingled with community members after the event, hosted by the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce. Christian Heritage Party candidate Randy Vanden Broek did not attend.
During the event, Conservative candidate Blake Richards referred to his experience as the Wild Rose representative during the past three years.
“I have worked to ensure your voice has been heard in Ottawa and … you told me very clearly that your priority is to see Canada’s economy fire on all cylinders again,” he said.
Although it was rather tame, the forum wasn’t without its mud slinging with Richards accusing the opposition parties of putting their political needs ahead of citizens’ needs and planning to raise taxes.
“They think Ottawa bureaucrats know how to spend Canadians’ hard-earned money better than you do,” he said. “The Conservatives are the only party with the clear deadline to eliminate the temporary deficit.”
The other parties did not take the jabs lightly and fired back, saying the government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper is the most secretive in Canada’s history and spending is out of control.
“A lack of accountability and transparency is a big part of why I’m running,” said Green Party candidate Mike MacDonald.
“I’m concerned about the direction the government is going in and would like to see more accountability and honesty.”
“This is the most important election Canada has ever had,” said Liberal candidate John Reilly.
“If the Conservative government is elected with a majority, it will demolish democracy.”
Despite the disagreements, the night was not without its laughs with MacDonald joking about the fact that the Green Party “hasn’t had the chance to screw up anything yet.”
NDP candidate Jeff Horvath also cracked a joke saying he is surprised the Conservatives changed the long-form census, so it is no longer mandatory under threat of jail time because the government is building so many jails.
The candidates closed the forum by stating what their parties see as the key issue for Canadians. MacDonald said he is striving for a smart economy, strong community and true democracy.
“We are looking at the big picture, at all the different public policy issues and connecting the dots,” he said.
Richards said his No. 1 priority is the economy.
“We want to see the recovery thrive, keep taxes low, create jobs and see the federal budget balanced as soon as possible,” he said.
Horvath made a commitment to those in attendance to provide leadership they can trust.
“Ottawa, for too long, has focused on the priorities of the well-connected,” he said.
“We want to reward the job creators, strengthen pensions and improve health care.”
Reilly quoted the Liberal slogan “Your Family, Your Future, Your Canada.”
“The thrust is to support the family,” he said.
“We want to make Canada strong by making the people strong.”
The federal election is May 2.
